Origin and geomorphology of the wetlands of Tanzania

View/Open

Date

Author

Status

Refereed Status

Metadata

Abstract

Wetlands are dynamic landforms which vary in both time and space. Tanzania's wetlands areclassified according to the physiography and the environment in which they exist. Coastalwetlands, Rift System wetlands and the wetlands of highland drainage basins are the majorgroups. Coastal wetlands are formed by wave action and tidal influence; beaches and lagoons exist because of wave action; mudflats, marshes, mangrove swamps, estuaries and deltas aretidal in origin. Rift System wetlands occur in the rift depressions and are characterised by salt lakes, playas, swamps and short streams with inland drainage. The highlands are drained by long rivers originating in the inland catchments and ending in oceans or lake basins. On theway to their outlets, they form lakes, swamps and floodplains......